Storyline :
     A disillusioned filmmaker has an encounter with a young girl who has a ritual of repeating "Tomorrow is my birthday" everyday.  He tries to communicate with her through his video camera

     Shiki-Jitsu (式日 lit. "Ritual Day" or "Ceremonial Day"?) is a (2000) live-action art-house film directed by Hideaki Anno. This film is Hideaki Anno''s second live action feature. The screenplay is an adaption by Hideaki Anno and Ayako Fujitani of Fujitani''s novella Touhimu, which was inspired by an emotionally difficult time spent in Los Angeles during her work in her father''s 1998 film, The Patriot.[citation needed] Michael Ordona of the Los Angeles Times said the film had "dark themes of mental illness and suicidal ideation".
   The film tells the story of a director, played by independent filmmaker Shunji Iwai, who meets an odd young woman, played by Ayako Fujitani, who wrote the novella Tohimu the film is based upon. The story takes place over a period of 33 days. The plot involves these two characters trying to work their way out of a collective emotional funk.

Shiki-Jitsu won an award for Best Artistic Contribution at the 13th International Film Festival in Tokyo.

User Reviews :
Wow.
26 October 2006 | by tammy_trauma (Canada)
     I must say, I was really not expecting this film... I gave this film a view without any idea of the plot or basic info to back it up and I finished the film with an uncomfortable feeling. From a personal perspective I can assure you this isn''t simply the story of a "crazy" girl and a washed out filmmaker...this is the story of a profoundly sorrowed girl and exploring how she deals with this sorrow in her day to day life. The reason she may not have jumped that ledge on the roof may very well be due to those lies she kept telling herself and her whole "ritual", she only needed someone to appreciate her and stay with her and teach her life isn''t as painful as she was brought up thinking it was.
     I can''t believe how well fujitani played this role...As someone else mentioned, why hasn''t she done more film? She was even TOO convincing in her role...I could have filled a litre of water with my tears.
     The uber-emotional plot and performances aside, the visuals were equally wonderful, especially her "secret" basement filled with red umbrellas, water, and her bathtub. I haven''t seen such unique and beautiful set designs for a while.